He began to dip down on his knee in readiness to propose to her, but Alice shook her head. “Not until after you have heard the terms of my marriage settlement. You may not wish to make me your wife after I tell you what they are.”
“If you will take me as I am, I don’t care what draconian clauses your father has welded into your dowries. My desire to be with you has never been about money.”
Chapter 21
Harry wasn’t the only one in possession of a surprise. Alice had kept the details of her dowry a closely guarded secret.
While Harry opened the bottle of champagne and poured them both a glass, Alice got the words of the settlement clear in her mind. “Papa has written ironclad marriage contracts for both Patience and me. If we tell him that we don’t want our husbands to receive funds, you get nothing. No money is settled immediately upon marriage.”
Harry chuckled. “I bet that came as a nasty shock to Cuthbert.”
“Actually, it was the final thing that convinced me he really does love my sister. He can neither kiss nor kick her dowry out of her. The lifestyle he will be granted in the years to come is very much dependent on her goodwill.” She accepted the glass of champagne he offered her and took a sip.
“But if that is the case, then why were you so set against the marriage? Cuthbert cannot get his hands on a vast fortune. I don’t understand,” he replied.
“Because as you yourself said, it was never about the money. I only ever wanted to save Patience from marrying a man who didn’t love her. It’s not as if either of us wander around society informing potential husbands that they are not about to land a large sack of money on their wedding day. Last night, Patience told me that Cuthbert Saint wasn’t aware of the terms of the marriage settlements until yesterday morning.”
“And yet he still wanted to marry her.”
“Yes. Love will do that to a man, or so I’ve been told.”
Harry held his glass up. “A toast to you, Alice North. I have never met anyone like you before. You challenge everything I thought I had clear in my mind. Not that that is always a good thing, but I still love you for it.”
You love me. Oh, Harry.
The tears came back full force this time. “You love me?” she whispered.
“Yes. I would never have taken you to the Temple of Diana if I didn’t think you and I belonged together. Though I must confess that at the time, I wasn’t sure if you felt something strongly for me, so I held back. Alice, you have made me share things about myself with you that I haven’t done with anyone else.”
Harry slipped a hand around her waist and planted a kiss on her lips. “It took every ounce of my self-control not to make you mine that night. You set things off in me that no other woman ever has; a deep burning desire for you flamed the moment we met. But I was determined that you would know the best and the worst about me before I put you in a position where marriage was the inevitable outcome of our relationship.”
Alice wiped at her tears. She had thought his refusal to make love to her that night was his way of rejecting her. That he hadn’t seen her as a potential wife.
“I would have given myself to you that night, and I wouldn’t have regretted it. I love you, Harry Steele. I love your madness, your outrageous dress sense, even your cute little piglet.”
He raised both eyebrows at those words. “And my wicked ways?”
She pursed her lips. There could never be a point where she could see herself being comfortable with the dangerous and illegal things that he and his friends did. “Only if you promise that in the years to come, you will do everything to move the RR Coaching Company to a respectable footing. I know you have powerful family and friends, but there may come a time when they cannot protect you.”
“I promise. In return, I want your answer to my question.” Harry went down on bended knee.
This time, Alice didn’t stop him. The choice now lay with her. Was she prepared to set aside her concerns, and consider a future with this rogue, relying on his promise that one day they would be free of danger?
Her heart whispered its answer. The one she would never be able to deny.
Yes.
“Alice North, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I want to spend as much of that time as possible in respectable, wedded bliss. Will you marry me?”
There were times they had both pushed things to their limit. But if this was the life they could have as husband and wife, one where they were equals and striving forward together, Alice wanted it.
It was such a relief that all the doubts and questions which had been preying on her mind were now out in the open. The road ahead would not be easy. Until the day Harry told her he was no longer involved in shady dealings, Alice would always worry. But she had made up her mind and would now stand beside him, helping him to create a better life.
“Yes.”
Harry got to his feet, and Alice stepped into his embrace, accepting his tender kisses with a grateful smile. A smile which turned into a longing sigh as his lips found their way to the side of her neck. He gently nipped, and heat pooled in her loins.
Memories of that night at the club came flooding back into her mind. No matter how long she lived, Alice would never forget that moment when Harry had brought her to climax as she lay on the floor.
Soon enough, she would ask Harry to take her back to the Temple of Diana, for him to show her more of that side of herself. But here and now, she was going to seize the moment.
They were alone in a luxury hotel suite. They were engaged. There was nothing and no one to stop them indulging in whatever they wished.
“Harry?” she whispered.
“Hmm.” His lips were in the crook of her neck, his hot breath sending shock waves of desire through her body.
She lifted a hand and ran her fingers through his hair, ruffling it gently when she reached the long wayward mop on top. Was there ever a sexier hairstyle for a man? She was certain there was not. “You could have had this discussion with me at my home, so I am assuming you brought me here because you had a plan which involved more than talking.”
You had better have plans or I am going to have to take a stand for both of us.
His body shook as a chuckle rumbled through him. Her whole core clenched at the sound. What his laugh did to her was beyond anything she had ever imagined humor could do.
Harry lifted his head and met her gaze. “Actually, I hadn’t got much further than rehearsing what I was going to say. Trust me though, I am a man used to making things up on the fly. Improvisation is one of my strong suits, so the day will not be wasted.”
Alice grinned at him. Harry, the gorgeously, sexy man was back, and she wanted him. Wanted to share her all with him today.
His fingers toyed with the opening of her gown. Alice lay her hand over his and whispered, “I want to keep these undergarments; they are some of my favorites. So, please don’t go getting any ideas about tearing them to pieces.”
Harry flashed his stunning green eyes at her. Alice shook her head. If she succumbed every time, he chose to use his sexual weapons on her, she would never win a battle.
“Harry Steele, you are not allowed to play unfairly when it comes to the bedroom. If you do, punishment shall follow.”
Harry groaned. “Oh, Alice, you have no idea what that does to me. If you are going to be strict, I promise I will misbehave all the damn time.”